Anxious British Lions wait for Lee Byrne

LEE BYRNE faces an anxious 48-hour wait to see if he is fit for Saturday’s second Test in Pretoria as the Lions today begin the task of picking up the pieces from dismal Durban and plot how to square the rubber with South Africa.

LEE BYRNE faces an anxious 48-hour wait to see if he is fit for Saturday’s second Test in Pretoria as the Lions today begin the task of picking up the pieces from dismal Durban and plot how to square the rubber with South Africa.

There is a growing clamour for Ian McGeechan to make his starting XV even more Welsh dominated if the Lions are to have any hope of overcoming the world champion Springboks at altitude this weekend.

Welsh front rowers Adam Jones and Matthew Rees seem to have cemented their places for Pretoria, after shoring up the creaking Lions scrum in the 26-21 Durban defeat.

Martyn Williams also pressed his claims for a starting berth by impressing as a replacement, while James Hook hopes to state his case by returning to fitness against the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town tomorrow night.

The biggest problem for McGeechan, though, surrounds the fitness of first-choice No15 Byrne, who limped out of Saturday’s match with a recurrence of a foot injury.

Byrne first picked up the problem when he was forced from the field during Wales’ Millennium Stadium defeat against Grand Slam-chasing Ireland in March.

The Ospreys man is confident he will be fit for the second Test, but the Lions will only make an assessment tomorrow after Byrne has had intensive treatment.

“It got more and more sore as the game went on and to the point that there was no sense carrying on,” said Byrne.

“I think it will be fine with a couple of days rest as it wasn’t the sharp pain I experienced when I had to come off against Ireland in March, but the effect was identical.”

Lions team doctor James Robson said: “Lee needs treatment over the next two days. It may well be that he has pulled a few fibres, but he was walking around fine on Sunday.”

Byrne’s Ospreys and Wales backline colleague Hook is also hoping for a boost when he sees an independent neurosurgeon today who will determine whether he has recovered from concussion.

If passed fit, Hook is likely to start at Newlands tomorrow night and he could come into the equation for the second Test as a rival for or back-up to Stephen Jones, who had a disappointing game in Durban.

“James continues to make an excellent recovery from his head knock last week,” said Dr Robson. “He has done various grades of activity, including non-contact rugby, with no problems.

“But he is subject to an independent neurological assessment under IRB regulations which takes the decision out of our hands.”

Prop Jones received wide plaudits for taming Springboks loosehead Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, who had destroyed Phil Vickery, while Rees also made an instant impression.

Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree said: “We were delighted with the impact that Matthew and Adam had on the set-piece. The changes we made sorted the problem out.

“In terms of selection, that will have an impact on the Test side next week.”

The Lions have called up former Cardiff prop Tim Payne as cover for Andrew Sheridan, who is struggling with a back injury.

The tourists will today reveal their side to face the Emerging Springboks, before sitting down on Wednesday to mull over the second Test options.

Click here to read the transcript of our Lions team live blog with our rugby expert Delme Parfitt